The Star in the Western Sky

THE STAR IN THE WESTERN SKY

By Elder A. Z. Richards, Jr..

A STAR—brilliant in the eastern sky

Fulfilled a promise from on high,

While westward, shining o’er the sea,

The same fulfilled a prophecy.

MUCH has been written concerning the visit of the wise men and the shepherds who sought and found the infant Christ, but beyond its guiding them to Bethlehem, the world knows little of the effect which that bright star had on other people at that eventful time. Its appearance in the eastern sky assured the magi that the King of kings was born, and Bible interpreters associate it with the prophecy of Balaam, who, though not an Israelite, blessed Israel many years before. He said that “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 21:17.)

Today we depict the peace on earth and good will toward men which was heralded by the fulfillment of this prophecy. We can see the shepherds gazing at the mystery in the sky as they tend their flocks upon the Judean hills. We can feel the hush of the starlight on the desert and hear the sounds from the crowded streets in Bethlehem. We think of the peace and sacred beauty which filled the manger where the Christ Child lay.

The Scriptures tell us of the east, the Holy Land, and indicate that but few saw the signs on that unusual night. But things were different in the west. Throughout that land, now known to us as the American continent, everyone saw the star. To them it shone as an incandescent flame in the western sky, and all the people, both sinners and saints, understood its meaning. Those who had rejected God and His servants quaked with trembling fear as they observed the signs, and in terror sank to the earth as if dead. While peace abounded in the east, confusion upturned the western world.

These people were the descendants of Lehi, who under divine guidance left Jerusalem with his family about 600 years B. C. and crossed the mighty deep to populate a new land. Lehi was a descendant of Joseph through Manasseh, and the Lord commanded him to take many of the old Jewish records with him, which he did. Thus was the old Mosaic law preserved by these people and the Lord gave them many prophets through whom he made known His will. Dissension set in among Lelii’s posterity and two factions arose which called themselves Nephites and Lamanites after the two sons of Lehi. Both became great peoples, the history of whom is made known to the world today by their record, the Book of Mormon.

Six years prior to Christ’s birth found the Nephites, deep in iniquity, casting out, stoning, and slaying the servants of God, while they encouraged and exalted false teachers who flattered them by singing in their ears the siren's song of “all is well.” They revelled in luxury and the fatness of the land, but their hearts did not turn in thankfulness to the great Giver of all these bounties. Nephi, their prophet and a descendant of the first Prophet Nephi, strove to stem the tide of vice, but without avail. On the other hand, at this time the Lanianites, their enemy, were zealous in keeping the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses and the prophets.

ZARAHEMLA, the great Nephite city, was visited by a stranger who preached repentance in their midst. He was Samuel, the Lamanite. We read in the Book of Mormon that in their anger he was cast from the city. Disheartened, he prepared to turn to his people, but an angel informed him that his mission was yet unfinished, commanding him to turn back and proclaim to the Nephites that which should be revealed unto him. He complied with the angel’s command, only to be refused entrance at the great city gates. But with the word of the Lord burning within him he scaled the city wall and from its top proclaimed, with outstretched arms, forthcoming destruction upon its wicked inhabitants. Deadly arrows were shot at him as he stood on that high vantage point. Angry mobs hurled stones at him. But with the protection of the Holy Spirit he remained untouched. Angered, they called upon their captains to seize and bind him. but he fled in safety. Many marvelled at the power which kept him from death and some sought out their prophet Nephi, confessed their sins and became converted. As for Samuel, the people of Zarahemla heard of him no more.

The prophecies of Samuel are among the most wonderful recorded in holy writ. He foretold many things regarding the life and death of our Saviour and concerning the future destiny of the people. Among other things he said:

Behold, I give unto you a sign: for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign: for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night: nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.

And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life, (Helaman 11:2-8.)

As the five-year period drew near its end, the faithful grew more steadfast, but the unbelievers more violent until the last day dawned. Not content with mocking and reviling, the wicked leaders set aside the day when all who believed in the coming of the Redeemer should be put to death. Nephi cried unto the Lord in anguish of soul to deliver his people, “and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to shew unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the month of my holy prophets. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.” (3 Nephi 1:12-11.)

Fulfilled that night, when the sun had set in its usual course, were the words of the prophet for there came no darkness, and on the morrow the sun rose on a land still light. A day and a night and another day had been as long as one day. Above the western horizon had shown the unusual star, the same which guided the magi eastward toward Bethlehem.

Seizing the opportunity afforded by the phenomenal signs, and the fear that had fallen upon the people, the righteous preached Christ unto the people—Christ the universal Saviour Christ the Redeemer of Lehi’s descendants, as well as those of Judah.

In the wake of these signs, they reaped a bounteous harvest, made ripe by the birth of Jesus, and the scripture says, “the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.” They knew not only that Christ was born across the sea, but that He would visit them after His resurrection, for that had been revealed unto them by the prophets.

Thus, unknown to them in Palestine, a nation was converted at His birth. The tale of the conversion of these people of the Western continent to the Gospel is indeed thrilling. Equally thrilling is the story of His ministry in the Western world. Jesus spent three glorious days among those people following His ministry, crucifixion and resurrection on the Eastern hemisphere. All of these wondrous truths have been revealed in these latter days in the Book of Mormon which stands as a new witness for Jesus the Christ.